ISL 2015: Zico targets better result for FC Goa in second season

Dubai: Brazillian legend and FC Goa manager Zico is confident that his side will do better this Indian Super League football season than the semifinal appearance in the inaugural edition last year.

Zico, who is here with the team for pre-season training and conditioning camp, said he's much more confident of his side's performance this time as he had been given a free hand to choose the players.

"The target is not like last year. We want to get better," Zico said at the sidelines of team training session.

"Last year I did not know the players, the foreigners and the technical staff. In the beginning it was difficult. This year we will be better because I got to choose the Indian players and the foreigners also," he added.

The team has been training at the Spanish Soccer Schools grounds in the Dubai Sports City to prepare for ISL 2. FC Goa are scheduled to play five pre-season friendlies against club sides of United Arab Emirates -- Al Khaleej, Al Shabab, Ajman, Al Jazeera and Al Hatta.

Out of these five clubs, Al Shabab and Al Jazeera play in the UAE Pro League, the top tier league of the country, and the remaining three play in the second tier competition.

FC Goa's marquee player Lucio said his side would be ready to do their best in the ISL after the training stint here.

"I'm very happy to be here. It's a new challenge to work with Zico. The training is going perfect. The climate in Goa will be like Brazil. We will be ready for the challenge," Lucio said.

"Zico called me and I'm very happy to work with him and the guys from Brazil," he added.

The squad will train here till September 20 and after that the team will be back in Goa for the final phase of preparations at the Tilak Maidan ground in Vasco before the ISL second season starts.

In their first fixture in ISL 2, FC Goa will take on Delhi Dynamos FC in a home game on October 4 at the Fatorda stadium in Margao.